Marion County soldier killed in Afghanistan

A 20-year-old Army soldier from Citra in Marion County died Saturday during combat in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Markie Sims was killed by an improvised explosive device in Panjwal.

Sims, who ran track and played basketball in high school, joined the Army in 2011 after graduating from Marion Technical Institute in Ocala.

He was serving with the 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Bridge Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. He was assigned to a team of soldiers working from an eight-wheel armored personnel vehicle, according to an Army spokesman.